Robert l



R. l.. GIFFORD.

HEATING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2T, |915.

UNrTnD s'rA'rEs Parnu orrron.

ROBERT L. GIFFORD, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ILLINOIS ENGINEERING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Application led March 27, 1915.

T0 -aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. GrrroRD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Pasadena, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heating systems, and more particularly to apparatus capable of use in systems in lwhich the water of condensation is returned to the boiler under steam or vapor pressure, although in its broader aspects the invention is not confined to such use.

The salient objects of the invention are to provide a construction in which theA main water of condensation pipe is cut oif from the return tank during the period when steam is being admitted to the latter; to provide a construction in which the valve that cuts olf communication between the return tank and the water of condensation pipe is positively actuated; to provide a construction in which the same mechanism which is employed for opening the valve that controls the admission of steamv to the return tank, actuates the valve that controls communication between the return tank and the water of condensation pipe; to provide a construction in which a positively actuated valve controls the air-vent passage from the return tank, this valve being actuated by the same mechanism employed for opening the valve to admit steam into the return tank; to provide a construction in which the air-vent valve and the water of condensation pipe valve are both automatically closed when the steam conduit valve'v is opened and vice versa; and in general to provide a simplified and improved construction in which all the valves are positively and automatically operated. yThe invention further resides in various features of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings- Fi re 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing my invention applied to a heating system;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssection through the valve mechanism.

Referring first to the general arrangement of the heating system, in the drawings Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

serial No. 17,328.

l designates the boiler, and 2 a radiator or heating unit, the latter being connected at its inlet end by a pipe 3 leading from the main steam pipe 4. At its discharge end the heating unit 2 has a Water of condensation pipe 5 connecting it in open communication with the main water of condensation turn tank 7 through the opening 8 which is controlled by a valve 9 in the manner hereinafter described. As its lower end the return tank 7 has the usual discharge outlet 1 0 through which the water of condensation from the heating system is returned to the boiler l.

In heating systems, particularly of the low pressure type, it is necessary that the water of condensation in the return tank be placed under sufcient pressure lto return it to the boiler against the boiler pressure. For this purpose steam from the boiler is admitted Ato the return tank through a pipe 11 lea-ding from the main steam pipe 4. Communication-between the ipe 11 and the return tank 7 is controlled y an automatically operated valve 12, the construction being such that, when an eX- cessive amount of water accumulates in the return tank, the valve 12 will be automatically moved from its seat and steam admitted to equalize the pressure between the boiler and the return tank, thereby permitting the water of condensation to return to the boiler by gravity.

As shown in Fig. 2, the valve 12 has its stem 13 pivotally connected to a rockable lever 15. The latter is fulcrumed at 16., and is rocked about this fulcrum by the raising and lowering of a link 17 which connects the lever 15 with a oat-operated lever 18. At one end the lever 18 is pivoted to a bracket 19 while its free end is provided with a iioat 20. The arrangement is such that, when the water of condensation accumulates in the return tank 7, the float 20 will raise and move the link 17 upwardly so as to rock the lever 15 about its fulcrum 16 and unseat the valve 12. Steam is thereby admitted into the return tank, and

pipe 6. The latter discharges into the reits seat.

operation of the valve controlling the admission of steam to the return tank is, therefore, automatically controlled by the level of the water of condensation. y

Leading from the return tank is an airvent 21 provided at its lower end with a mercury seal 22, the purpose of this vent being to permit the escape of any air, which might pass into the return tank. I also preferably employ a second -air vent 23 ccnnected into the main water of condensation pipe 6 and provided with a mercury seal 24, this last vent permitting the escape of air in the water of condensation pipes and the mercury seals being constructed to prevent, ingress of air into the system, while permitting the escape of air therefrom. v

For preventing the passing of steam from the return tank 7 into the air-vent 21 a valve 25 is employed, this valve being automatically seated during the period when steam is being admitted into the return tank. For operating this valve 25, I employ a connection with the same mechanism utilized for actuating the steam inlet valve 12. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, the stem 26 of the valve 25 is connected to the opposite end of the lever 15 from that to which the valve stem 13 is attached. It will, therefore, be apparent that, as the lever 15 rocks about its ful-b crum to unseat the valve 12, it will automatically seat the valve 25 and vice versa.

It is also desirable that the steam be prevented froin passing from the return tank into the main water of condensation pipe 6. As previously mentioned, a valve 9 is employed for controlling the opening 8 through which the water of condensation pipe 6 discharges into the return tank, and in order to insure the positive opening and closing of this valve 9, I preferably utilize a lconnection with the same means which governs the movement of the valves 12 and 25. As shown in detail in Fig. 2, the valve stem 26 is provided with an extension 27 extending through a suitablebearing 28, and the lower end of the extension is connected with thev stem 29 of the valve 9 by means of a bellcrank lever 30, pivotec at 31. Thus, as the valve 25 is automatically moved upward when the valve 12 moves downwardly from its seat, the extension 27 will move upwardly, and through the action of the bell-crank lever 30 will force the valve 9 laterally to Un the other hand, when the float lever 18 lowers, it will automatically withdraw theA valves 9and 25 from their seats and simultaneously close the valve 12.

From the above description it will be seen that the valves 25 and 9 controlling communication between the return tank and the air vent and between the return tank and the water of condensation pipe are simultaneously seated whenever the valve 12, which controls the admission of steam into the tank, is unseated. Also all three valves are actuated by the same mechanism, which is positively actuating and free from complicated parts. Moreover, the use of my invention avoids any danger of steam passing into the air vent or water of condensation pipe, since it will be impossible to admit steam into the return tank without simultaneously closing the valves 25 and 9.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of my invention, and I do not desire to limit the latter except as specified in theappended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a heating apparatus, adapted for use withy low pressure or vacuum systems, the combination with a boiler, of a heating unit, connections between the boiler and heating unit for delivering live steam to the latter, connections between the heating unit and boiler for returning. the condensate to the latter, a return tank, a condensate pipe connected with said tank, a conduit for admitting live steam into the tank, a valve controlling the admission of steam from the conduit, a second valve for controlling communication between the tank and the condensate pipe, an airvent leading from the pipe, a valve controlling said air vent, leverage mechanism connecting two of said valves to automatically close one of said valves when the other is opened, said leverage mechanism being seated in the tank and consisting of a bracket support, a float operated lever pivotally connected thereto, a link pivotallyV connected to said lever, a rockable lever connected to said link intermediate its ends and having its ends connected to said valves.

ROBERT L. GIFFORD.

Witnesses:

.I.MARIE WATTS, G. D. ONEILL. 

